Module One: Audio Design I – Podcast (Pre-Production)

Reading & Writing

Introduction to Sound

Chapter 8 of The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video covers all aspects of sound, microphones, and best practices for recording audio. Schroeppel begins this chapter by explaining how sound is created. “Every sound, whether it be a human voice or a tree falling in the forest, is caused by something vibrating.” Similarly, our eardrums vibrate when sound waves reach our ears and, once sent to the brain, these vibrations are translated into audible sounds. Microphones are crafted in such a way that mimics the ear, with the diaphragm serving as the eardrum. Conversely, loudspeakers work in reverse, creating sound waves as electric signals vibrate a diaphragm. Various microphone types are utilized within film and video productions, providing unique benefits:

• Lavalier microphones are small in size and typically placed close to a sound source. They are often clipped to a speaker’s chest and tend to produce a strong signal. 
• Hand microphones are the most versatile mics used in film and video. They can pick up either cardioid or omnidirectional sound and are widely used throughout the industry. 
• Shotgun microphones pick up omnidirectional sound and are great for capturing distant sounds.

When selecting a microphone, remember your audience! It’s always best to use the type of microphone that will adequately capture the sound you want your audience to hear. Furthermore, it is important to record clean, crisp sound, identify noticeable sound effects and record them close up, and aim to keep all recorded voices consistent. 

Schroeppel’s final tip: “record your voices, sound effects, and presence separately and cleanly. This will give you maximum flexibility in your mix.”

Scripting a Podcast

From microphones to software, to scripts and more, starting a podcast can easily become overwhelming. Luckily the team at, The Podcast Host has published a detailed series on Creating Powerful Podcast Content. Here are some of the takeaways I plan to utilize as I prepare to record the first episode of my podcast:

• Create an invisible podcast script by mapping the structure of the podcast out step by step. 
• The best podcasts are conversational in nature, so write like you talk.
• “Be yourself, be authentic and have fun.”
• Whether you script your podcast word-for-word or list simple bullet points, most successful podcasts are built upon some sort of script. 
• The podcast scripting approach you choose is fully up to you. Do what works!
• Continue to refine your script until it flows naturally.
• Taglines add a special spark to your brand. Don’t take them for granted.
• Include hooks to help listeners transition and navigate your podcast.
• Outline, write, and edit your podcast content independently.
• Read, rehearse, rewrite or remove, markup your script.
• Slow down your delivery and vary your tone. Break your show down into bite-size chunks and plan on doing two or three takes of each element.

Research to Inform

Podcasts I Enjoy

There are a number of podcasts I have listened to that I thoroughly enjoy for various reasons. Here are five podcasts that I hope to draw inspiration from for my first podcast episode:

1. The Realness, hosted by Mary Harris and Christopher Johnson. In this podcast series, Harris and Johnson narrate the life of the rapper Prodigy adding in the context of his lifelong battle with Sickle Cell Disease. They converse with one another, interview individuals connected to the story, insert clips of Prodigy speaking, and incorporate his music, all while detailing Prodigy’s impact and legacy. Although Harris and Johnson are WNYC health reporters, through their script, ambient sound, sound effects, and music, the podcast becomes much more than a health-focused resource. It’s easily relatable and engaging for any listener. 
2. Radiolab, hosted by Jad Abumrad. This podcast “asks deep questions and uses investigative journalism to get the answers.” As a listener, you’ll never be bored because this podcast creatively weaves music and sound effects into its stories, creating a rich audio experience for listeners. This podcast includes narration and dialogue.
3. Passing Through, hosted by Nneka Julia. Through this podcast, Nneka Julia shares her personal revelations while passing through various places and spaces. Each episode includes a number of audio clips, sound effects, and more audible stimulation that transports the listener to the place or space she is covering.
4. Crime Junkie, hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. In this popular storytelling podcast, Ashley and Brit recount and narrate true crime occurrences, incorporating their own thoughts and dialogue, crime-related knowledge, tips for listeners, and a little bit of drama and suspense to keep the listener on the edge of their seat.
5. The Sickle Cell Podcast, hosted by Dr. Stephen Boateng and Cass Trimnell. This podcast is comprised of dialogue between two hosts living with Sickle Cell Disease and their guests. It covers various topics within the context of Sickle Cell Disease, including Racial Injustice, Mental Health, Gene Therapy, and more. It provides a very human approach and viewpoint of the daily experiences of people with Sickle Cell Disease.

Create

Feel My Pain: S1E0

Since 2020, I’ve had the desire to create a podcast that details some of my life experiences as an individual diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease. Although I have had this idea for a while, I have not yet had the chance to make headway with scripting and producing my podcast. This week’s pre-production podcast assignment finally gave me the chance to work on my first episode of Feel My Pain.

Feel My Pain will serve as a podcast dedicated to providing an inside look into the daily experiences of individuals diagnosed with a rare blood disorder called Sickle Cell Disease, which causes chronic pain. As Feel My Pain develops, I hope to invite people with Sickle Cell and those directly connected to individuals with the disease to share their personal stories through an anonymous submission form. These submissions will be transformed into a storytelling experience in which the listener is granted the opportunity to assimilate the world of those with Sickle Cell and feel their pain. My ultimate goal for this podcast is to provide insight, increase understanding, and raise awareness for a medical condition affecting millions of people of color worldwide, including myself and my loved ones.

Possible Challenges 

Creating a health-related podcast may present some challenges including keeping the listener engaged. Although I plan to incorporate music, sound effects, and ambient audio, my first episode will likely be informative. Therefore, I am seeking innovative ways to keep the podcast episodes from becoming boring and stale. 

I would also like to strike a balance between incorporating interesting personal accounts and experiences as well as facts related to Sickle Cell Disease. I hope my storytelling approach will suffice in future episodes, but I am open to suggestions on how to make my pilot episode just as engaging.